We were seated in a humongous football stadium, ready to watch the graduating seniors parade onto the field.  Graduation day turned out to be more entertaining than we had expected. 

Commencement commenced and the students began to move from the track to the turf.  One lovely young lady stepped forward, then stumbled and plowed into the person in front of her. 

It probably wasn’t the best idea to wear spiked heels that night.  The heels pierced the soft earth like a knife.

Then another elevated lovely entered.  She stumbled and recovered, stumbled and recovered, then stumbled and fell.  It was getting difficult to stifle a laugh.

Spiked heels were evidently popular that year because a good number of girls hit the dirt.   I believe one guy even placed a bet that the valedictorian would fall at least twice.

Sad it was! Their moment to shine was tarnished.

The Christian will also have his/her moment to shine – a graduation day of sorts.  Paul mentioned it in 2 Timothy 4:8, “Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.” 

That sounds nice!  Those of us who eagerly anticipate the return of the Lord Jesus will be given a graduation gift – the crown of righteousness.   A crown typically represents rulership.  The faithful will have the privilege of ruling alongside Jesus someday.  (2 Timothy 2:12)    That will be our time to shine.

But there may be a little tarnish to it. 

Revelation 21:4 takes us to the hallowed halls of heaven.  It says, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes…”  Wait a minute!  Why would there be tears in heaven that God would need to wipe away? 

That may have to do with the “judgment seat of Christ.”  Prior to receiving a crown, we will undergo an examination.  Paul discusses it in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.”

Careful with those conclusions!  This has nothing to do with our salvation status.  The Christian is saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus.  Once we have belonged to Him, nothing can separate us from Him.

This examination is reserved only for believers.  It is a time to celebrate a Christian life that has been well lived, and maybe to grieve a little, the life that wasn’t.   

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-28) we learn that the Lord expects us to live well and to make the most of the resources that He has given us such as our natural talents, and spiritual gifts, our financial blessings and the various opportunities for ministry we might have and of course the grace and power to do these things which He makes available to us through His Spirit. 

Some of us will take those resources and create a legacy that compares to gold, silver, and precious stones.  Others will produce results that compare to wood, hay, and stubble.  (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

Only the good stuff will be celebrated and rewarded.

But don’t get the idea that we all fit into one category or the other.  I was a pastor for 32 years.  That ought to be worth an ingot or two. 

And yet during those same 32 years, I figure I accumulated enough hay and stubble to feed the cattle on a thousand hills for a thousand years.

None of us do life perfectly but we can do it purposefully.  We can purpose down deep in our hearts to serve our amazing Savior.

We want to do this first because we love Him.  Secondly – because graduation day is coming, and we don’t want to stumble on the way. 

A prayer:  Lord – help us to live well and to serve willingly

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture references are from the NETBible®